<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                         UT
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS,  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS  OF CASH FLOWS AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                            1,000
       
<S>                                                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                           YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                       DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                          JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                            DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                        3,752,205
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                              0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                             980,167
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           627,035
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                     100,061
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   5,459,468
<COMMON>                                                           762,136
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                          553,926
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                350,381
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                   1,666,443
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                                         20,717
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                             1,219,778
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                 206,303
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                           0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                      130,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                              0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                   2,216,227
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                    5,459,468
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                        2,856,123
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                               128,322
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                       2,408,460
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                       2,536,782
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                            319,341
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  (1,291)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                     318,050
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           102,238
<NET-INCOME>                                                       215,812
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                            858
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                      214,954
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           178,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                          101,384
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                             461,160
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                         0.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                         0.00
                                                         

</TABLE>